Does anyone else use gems?

I'm not sure if this is best in the Rubik's Cube or the Speakeasy. It honestly can go both ways. I figure that this is more suitable for a conversation topic rather than extensive philosophies. If not, feel free to let me know.

I'm not exactly talking about just decorative jewelry, I mean actually using gems, for healing and so forth. I believe that stones and minerals can carry and transfer certain energies. My main interest is healing and furthering one's self, rather than all that, "Rubies bring money into your life!!", type of hoo-ha. My main stone would be amethyst. It is considered the best all-purpose stone next to quartz, and does a number of tasks like healing, preventing nightmares, enhancing your Inner Mind, and in general, helps me feel calm whenever I'm stressed. Keep in mind, I don't practice any nature religions, nor am I really honestly religious, I'm purely dabbling. It could be worse; can you imagine a nib with a Ouija board?

 Spoiler

It all started when I liked the stone amethyst. It really wasn't special, went for the purple color and it stuck. It did feel a little strange in my hands when I got it, but I figured it was just cold. Told my friend, and she told me that amethyst was pretty much thought of for healing. Bored, dealing with an identity crisis, I figured I could give it a shot. All I remember is that it made me tired as all hell, and I fell asleep. The one thing I didn't know, is that it enhanced how sensitive I was to any stone that wasn't plastic and/or glass. You figure that wouldn't be a bad thing, right? What could stones listed as healing, good for the heart, etc, do wrong to someone? Well, for one thing, some types of rocks actually hurt. Sandstone makes my arms itch, a couple stones make me feel bruised and sore, and others give dull, painful pulses.

The thing is, it's not all in my head. I know there's a fine line between focusing on an energy and making it up, but I certainly don't make myself feel pain for the jollies of it. That, and I've completely sapped all the energy of my three stones. I can hold them for hours and get nothing but a cramp from closing my hands for so long. They're also a muddy, dark purple instead of the clear purple they used to be. The only time I got a reaction today was when I held my new piece of amethyst my mother bought me for vacation. It was weird to actually have a working rock again. :/ I need something to clean them, darn it.

Sorry for the auto-biography. Is anyone else into this sort of thing? I know it's considered BS by some people, but I find it interesting, and have personal experiences with it. I also need help making a charm for my boyfriend who's having bad nightmares, and while research is nice, I'd like to get additional advice from people as well. I don't know if mixing certain stones will overpower each other, cancel each other out, or put him in a coma. Y'know, all that calm and simple stuff. No pressure.

I wear amber studs in my cheek and tragus piercings and own amber beads for my others' captives, though that's more because I think amber looks pretty. There's definitely an attractive quality to be seen that goes beyond appearance, however, which most likely stems from what amber's associated with (like that scene in Jurassic Park). It's sorta like carrying around something with a long history, like an heirloom passed down by nature herself.

I wear amber studs in my cheek and tragus piercings and own amber beads for my others' captives, though that's more because I think amber looks pretty. There's definitely an attractive quality to be seen that goes beyond appearance, however, which most likely stems from what amber's associated with (like that scene in Jurassic Park). It's sorta like carrying around something with a long history, like an heirloom passed down by nature herself.

Yes, amber is gorgeous. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find it around, and even if I could, I already have too many bracelets and necklaces. If I had my way, I'd have easily two weeks' worth of jewelry to wear each day without repeating myself. Anything made with a crystal or stone is priceless to me; they can last through anything and will go through generations like a legacy. Let's see a plastic trinket do that. Another favorite is pearl. Can't get enough of it.

Yes, amber is gorgeous. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find it around, and even if I could, I already have too many bracelets and necklaces. If I had my way, I'd have easily two weeks' worth of jewelry to wear each day without repeating myself. Anything made with a crystal or stone is priceless to me; they can last through anything and will go through generations like a legacy. Let's see a plastic trinket do that. Another favorite is pearl. Can't get enough of it.

Pearls are fascinating to me, as they seem to exist solely out of coincidence.

Then there's obsidian: something so beautiful associated with so much violence (formed by lava flow, used as weapons by Mesoamericans...). Groovy.

Pearls are fascinating to me, as they seem to exist solely out of coincidence.

Then there's obsidian: something so beautiful associated with so much violence (formed by lava flow, used as weapons by Mesoamericans...). Groovy.

I have one of those obsidian arrowheads. Smooth volcanic glass. <3 But it's chipped a little and wasn't done well. What's cool is that one side sort of has some smooth grooves in it, so you can see where it finally stopped moving. What interests me more is marble and granite. You have to wonder how much force was used to push the combinations together. I always imagined the smaller portions growing in on it like mold or something. xD

SO YoU'RE AIMING TO PUT ME INTO A COMA, EH? I SEE YOUR DASTARDLY PLAN.

Nah, just kidding. I'm the boyfriend she speaks of. She wants to make me some kind of piece of jewelry or something that can be worn/adorned as to prevent my seemingly recurring nightmares, and awful sleep patterns.

Usually nightmares don't bother me much, and when I do have them, they usually STILL don't bother me because I'm really not new to the whole "horror" thing, it's what I'm most known for loving, actually. But the past few days, things have been getting a wee bit more terrifying, and they seem to aim and target to constantly have me in a fearful state. Call me crazy, but it's like something else is here in the room/house, and it's not happy with me.

SO YoU'RE AIMING TO PUT ME INTO A COMA, EH? I SEE YOUR DASTARDLY PLAN.
<*snippetysnip*>
Usually nightmares don't bother me much, and when I do have them, they usually STILL don't bother me because I'm really not new to the whole "horror" thing, it's what I'm most known for loving, actually. But the past few days, things have been getting a wee bit more terrifying, and they seem to aim and target to constantly have me in a fearful state. Call me crazy, but it's like something else is here in the room/house, and it's not happy with me.

AYE, my dastardly plan defeated! Does that mean I should use the Ouija board instead? I'm totally an expert.

Since you're into stuff like this you may also want to look into Dreamcatchers which I've always enjoyed.

Depending on the type you make you may also need to add a few small gems to the Dreamcatcher.

Since you're into stuff like this you may also want to look into Dreamcatchers which I've always enjoyed.

Depending on the type you make you may also need to add a few small gems to the Dreamcatcher.

I hadn't seen them with gems before, so when the idea first came into my head, I was like, "Nahhhhh...". But thanks for the suggestion, I'll give it a shot when I can. I've seen kits for them, but would it be best for me to individually get the materials? I know that some 'kits' tend to be commercialized crap, so I'm wary.

Since you're into stuff like this you may also want to look into Dreamcatchers which I've always enjoyed.

Depending on the type you make you may also need to add a few small gems to the Dreamcatcher.

Ahhh, I love dreamcatchers. If you can find an authentic one, save it. Things like those are becoming rarer as manufacturing becomes all the more dominant in the market. Real ones are as provoking physically as they are as a concept.

I hadn't seen them with gems before, so when the idea first came into my head, I was like, "Nahhhhh...". But thanks for the suggestion, I'll give it a shot when I can. I've seen kits for them, but would it be best for me to individually get the materials? I know that some 'kits' tend to be commercialized crap, so I'm wary.

If you're going to make one yourself I suggest collecting everything individually since it would create a much better energy than if you were to buy it all in one pre-packaged kit.

If you're going to make one yourself I suggest collecting everything individually since it would create a much better energy than if you were to buy it all in one pre-packaged kit.

I'm pretty sure anything from China doesn't have much energy left by the time they're done with it. *rimshot* But I get your point. What's the use in getting something for YOUR spiritual comfort if neither you or someone who knows what they're doing, created it? That's asking for it to backfire. That being said, I am surprisingly superstitious.

I'm pretty sure anything from China doesn't have much energy left by the time they're done with it. *rimshot* But I get your point. What's the use in getting something for YOUR spiritual comfort if neither you or someone who knows what they're doing, created it? That's asking for it to backfire. That being said, I am surprisingly superstitious.

You can always go out to an Indian reservation and buy one.

Didn't mean it like that.

You can always go out to an Indian reservation and buy one.

Didn't mean it like that.

Nah, I wouldn't take what you said in a, "I'm totally screwed if it doesn't turn out right", type of deal. Just saying that personal stuff like that is best done by the experts or the customer themselves. I do hear there there are some native American populations in this area, so if I'm not available to do it myself, that could be an option.

Pardon the duck. It's late at night, I really wanted to use an emoticon, and I didn't realize it would give the wrong impression. <~ fix'd

My mother took a class on this once. It's a topic called Colortherapy, that is, using different colors of gems and stones to heal the body.

i believe in science and modern medicine or at least something with a real scientific background. this sounds like witchcraft to me really.

My mother took a class on this once. It's a topic called Colortherapy, that is, using different colors of gems and stones to heal the body.

I've seen colortherapy bracelets in this one alternative fashion magazine, but they were like $60 and swarovski crystal. It was catered more towards gothic/wicca stylings, but their jewelry is beautiful. I only knew that colortherapy worked with the color spectrum to 'tune' the body (at least from the product's description. I fail), so I didn't know that included stones. That sounds interesting, I should look it up.

i believe in science and modern medicine or at least something with a real scientific background. this sounds like witchcraft to me really.

I was wondering when someone with a different viewpoint would come in. Early in the morning when I posted must have summoned the more mystical. But yeah, it sounds funky to me myself, but if you sort of think about it, if crystals can refract light, it could be possible for them to hold energy too? At least in my head.

I was wondering when someone with a different viewpoint would come in. Early in the morning when I posted must have summoned the more mystical. But yeah, it sounds funky to me myself, but if you sort of think about it, if crystals can refract light, it could be possible for them to hold energy too? At least in my head.

I'm pretty sure energy isn't used in any type of refraction formulas I've dealt with so far. If I recall correctly, the phenomenon of refraction occurs when you have light coming from one medium with a certain refractive index heading into another medium with a different refractive index. More or less it should be Snell's Law from which I haven't observed any need to use potential or kinetic energy. Except for the speed of light on occasion.

Additionally pure light should be every single wavelength. When it passes visible objects, it specifically reflects off a specific wavelength of light that gives it the color that you see from the stone. Apparently even though this concept holds true for various biological systems such as choloroplasts within a plant (the chlorophyll reflects green light), gems don't completely reflect the color of choice (ex emeralds don't absorb everything but green light) otherwise they'd be way too dark in color. Therefore it's a mix of both reflection and refraction that give gems and crystals their definitive colors. Also most gems are inorganic in the sense that they have been discovered in lava faults or other types of extreme environment where they have formed along rock formations that existed for thousands of years. Organic gemstones are often regarded as gems that are obtained from previous living organisms that have died. Examples include coral, pearls, ivory, and amber. Even though a distinction is made between the two types, they are both regarded as nonliving inanimate objects by most scientists.

There is such a thing as herbal healing, and there are things that are quite real that seem like magic when you see them in action. With what you're talking about, it is Eastern medicine. They can take some herbs, or carefully put needles in your flesh, and you feel better and it's like a miracle. In the same vein, you have 9th degree Tae Kwon Do grandmasters, who are like 92 years old, and who at their age can break 15 bricks stacked on top of each other with one hit and not even be winded. That seems like a miracle too.

Thing is, it's not magic, it's thousands of years of practice and observations about the human body being patiently taught to a practitioner over many years, who then uses it on you. This "herbal healing" and "gems" $hit comes from gypsies and superstition. A police officer who talked about gypsies to my class said "I don't care if I sound racist, but gypsies are bad." He told us how some gypsy children were busted for theft, and in the police station -- in the police station! -- their parents were teaching them to steal. "They'll see it if you do it this way," they taught their children in front of the cop. An unrelated person I worked with was an old woman with a lot of experience -- she said never take credit cards or checks from gypsies, only cash, because they'll dissappear with your stuff and you'll get scammed and never collect.

Gypsies spread crap about herbal healing and gems and it seems romantic and wonderful, except you're wasting your time with absolute bull$hit. That is essentially what gypsies are -- bull$hit with a romantic and wonderful veneer. Their palm reading and tarot cards and crap like that is just a ruse to scam you out of money outright, or to pick your pockets while you're not looking. And at pickpocketing, the gypsies ARE magicians. One of them, sitting next to my dad on a train, stole my dad's watch off his wrist and was gone before my dad could notice. People that do stuff like psychic readings or "psychic healing" are like gypsies, because they are running scams, (big or small,) and hoping to get as much of your money as possible beefore you wise up and leave. If you want to learn something substantial, read up on Eastern stuff; that has a proven track record. If you do this, you will just be wasting your time, and mingling with people that want to scam you out of your money.

I'm pretty sure energy isn't used in any type of refraction formulas I've dealt with so far. If I recall correctly, the phenomenon of refraction occurs when you have light coming from one medium with a certain refractive index heading into another medium with a different refractive index. More or less it should be Snell's Law from which I haven't observed any need to use potential or kinetic energy. Except for the speed of light on occasion.

Additionally pure light should be every single wavelength. When it passes visible objects, it specifically reflects off a specific wavelength of light that gives it the color that you see from the stone. Apparently even though this concept holds true for various biological systems such as choloroplasts within a plant (the chlorophyll reflects green light), gems don't completely reflect the color of choice (ex emeralds don't absorb everything but green light) otherwise they'd be way too dark in color. Therefore it's a mix of both reflection and refraction that give gems and crystals their definitive colors. Also most gems are inorganic in the sense that they have been discovered in lava faults or other types of extreme environment where they have formed along rock formations that existed for thousands of years. Organic gemstones are often regarded as gems that are obtained from previous living organisms that have died. Examples include coral, pearls, ivory, and amber. Even though a distinction is made between the two types, they are both regarded as nonliving inanimate objects by most scientists.

I worded my post wrong, and was very tired when I wrote it. I didn't exactly mean light refraction, it was just the first thing to pop up into my head about how to relate to energy. I really honestly don't know how scientifically a person reacting or 'healing' because of stones, can be shown, nor do I plan to show proof. I suppose I just figured it could be physically possible to show, and didn't really do too much research on it, sorta like the idea that one day we'll colonize the moon. If you don't get what I mean, I mean to say that I really have no scientific experience to back it up, so it may as well be me just being weird.

As for you, Quantact...I don't see how Gypsies have anything purely to do with the beliefs of gemstones. The greeks and other cultures also spread this around, and I'd rather not lump up one known group and turn it into, "Dirty, rotten thieves made bullshiet rumors to make money". This is a cultural difference that bothers you, and I do not want to promote any form of discrimination. The thing is, some herbs can be bullcrap too. Take all the new 'dietary' herbs in mind. While I appreciate your input on Eastern Medicine, I respectfully disagree and think that holding a few shiny stones isn't going to kill me.